Deck 3: The Biological Basis of Life

Question 1

Which of the following statements concerning messenger RNA is FALSE?

A)It contains the base uracil instead of thymine.
B)It is single-stranded.
C)It contains the same sugar that is found in DNA.
D)It is able to pass through the nuclear membrane.
E)It is involved in the synthesis of proteins.

Answer 1

It contains the same sugar that is found in DNA.

Question 2

According to the human genome's latest revision, humans have approximately how many genes?

A)90,000
B)25,000
C)50,000
D)21,000
E)30,000

Answer 2

21,000

Question 3

The cell nucleus

A)is the same thing as the cytoplasm.
B)is not distinct from the cytoplasm.
C)contains only X and Y chromosomes.
D)is made up of ribosomes.
E)contains DNA and RNA.

Answer 3

contains DNA and RNA.

Question 4

In protein synthesis, transcription is the process of

A)manufacturing tRNA.
B)assembling polypeptide chains.
C)forming mRNA molecules.
D)producing amino acids.
E)manufacturing ribosomal RNA.

Question 5

A DNA nucleotide

A)is composed of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphorous unit.
B)is the same thing as an RNA molecule.
C)codes for the production of an amino acid.
D)can include the nitrogenous base uracil.
E)contains proteins and amino acids.

Question 6

What are mRNA triplets called?

A)Exons
B)Introns
C)Codons
D)Genomes
E)Mutations

Question 7

Which of the following is not a nitrogenous base found in DNA?

A)Uracil
B)Guanine
C)Thymine
D)Adenine
E)Cytosine

Question 8

Gametes are

A)egg and sperm cells.
B)also called zygotes.
C)the cellular components of body tissue.
D)part of prokaryotes.
E)organelles.

Question 9

A segment of DNA that specifies the sequence of amino acids in a particular protein is called a(n)

A)gene.
B)codon.
C)polypeptide.
D)amino acid.
E)helix.

Question 10

Cells

A)are the basic units of life.
B)usually do not have DNA.
C)only have a nucleus and no cytoplasm.
D)are inherited only  from one parent.
E)originated on earth approximately 5 million years ago.

Question 11

The two basic types of eukaryotic cells are somatic cells and

A)zygotes.
B)gametes.
C)autosomes.
D)polar bodies.
E)organelles.

Question 12

The substitution of one DNA base for another is a (an)

A)point mutation.
B)genome.
C)trisomy.
D)allele.
E)locus.

Question 13

The protein molecule that occurs in red blood cells and binds to oxygen molecules is called

A)valine.
B)hemoglobin.
C)proline.
D)the cell membrane.
E)the ribosomes.

Question 14

Enzymes

A)are amino acids.
B)are major constituents of body tissues.
C)initiate and enhance chemical reactions in the body.
D)are also called zygotes.
E)have no cellular function.

Question 15

Somatic cells are

A)one type of prokaryotic cells.
B)gametes.
C)the cellular components of body tissue.
D)the only types of cells humans have.
E)responsible for reproduction.

Question 16

DNA

A)is single-stranded.
B)is composed of nitrogenous bases, sugars, and gametes.
C)directs cellular functions.
D)contains the base uracil.
E)contains six different nitrogenous bases.

Question 17

A zygote

A)is formed by the union of two somatic cells.
B)has only half the full complement of genetic material.
C)is part of a nucleotide.
D)undergoes meiosis.
E)is a fertilized egg.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a function of cells?

A)Protein synthesis
B)Storing DNA
C)Breaking down nutrients
D)Storing PCR
E)Storing energy

Question 19

The DNA base guanine always pairs with which other DNA base(s)?

A)Adenine
B)Guanine
C)Cytosine
D)Uracil
E)Hemoglobin

Question 20

Ribosomes are

A)the sex chromosomes.
B)gametes.
C)found only in prokaryotes.
D)present only  when the cell divides.
E)important to protein synthesis.

Question 21

After mitosis, daughter cells contain the same amount of DNA as in the original cell.  This is due to

A)protein synthesis.
B)recombination.
C)pairing of homologous chromosomes.
D)meiosis.
E)DNA replication.

Question 22

Which severe inherited hemoglobin disorder cases red blood cells to collapse when deprived of oxygen?

A)Cystic fibrosis
B)Hemophilia
C)Diabetes
D)Tay-sachs disease
E)Sickle-cell anemia

Question 23

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the process of meiosis?

A)Meiosis produces gametes.
B)Meiosis produces daughter cells with half the original amount of DNA found in the original cell.
C)There are two cell divisions.
D)Meiosis produces daughter cells with the same amount of DNA found in the original cell.
E)Homologous chromosomes exchange genetic information.

Question 24

Meiosis

A)is the cell division process in somatic cells.
B)replaces cells during growth and development.
C)permits healing of injured tissue.
D)results in two identical daughter cells.
E)produces gametes.

Question 25

Which of the following produces varying combinations of genes in populations?

A)Recombination
B)Mitosis
C)Nondisjunction
D)Trisomy 21
E)Sickle-cell anemia

Question 26

There are two basic types of chromosomes, autosomes and

A)eukaryotes.
B)codons.
C)autosomes.
D)centromere.
E)ribosomes.

Question 27

Regulatory genes are responsible for all of the following EXCEPT

A)deactivating DNA.
B)diminishing or enhancing expression of other genes.
C)playing a key part in embryological development.
D)synthesizing protein.
E)serving a fundamental role in cellular function.

Question 28

Discrete structures composed of DNA and proteins are called

A)chromosomes.
B)ribosomes.
C)organelles.
D)chromatin.
E)mitochondria.

Question 29

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Sickle-cell anemia can result in impaired blood circulation.
B)Individuals with sickle-cell anemia inherited an abnormal allele from each parent that causes the production of an altered form of hemoglobin.
C)People with sickle-cell trait are as severely affected as those with sickle-cell anemia.
D)The abnormal form of hemoglobin in people with sickle-cell anemia is called hemoglobin S.
E)The mutation that results in sickle-cell anemia affects the hemoglobin beta chain.

Question 30

How many chromosome pairs occur in a normal human somatic cell?

A)24
B)23
C)26
D)25
E)22

Question 31

The two strands of a chromosome are joined at a constricted region called the

A)autosome.
B)ribosome.
C)centromere.
D)nucleotide.
E)cytoplasm.

Question 32

The process of recombination occurs during

A)crossing over.
B)mitosis.
C)meiosis.
D)protein synthesis.
E)none of these.

Question 33

How many chromosomes occur in a normal human somatic cell?

A)23
B)48
C)46
D)53
E)50

Question 34

Alleles are

A)segments of tRNA that code for polypeptide chains.
B)only present on X and Y chromosomes.
C)the entire genetic makeup of an individual.
D)alternative forms of a gene.
E)proteins.

Question 35

The Y chromosome

A)is found in both sexes: males have two, females have one.
B)influences numerous characteristics in addition to sex determination.
C)can be inherited from either parent.
D)carries genes that cause the fetus to develop as a male.
E)causes a fetus to develop as female if there are two present.

Question 36

The X and Y chromosomes are called

A)autosomes.
B)gametes.
C)centromeres.
D)sex chromosomes.
E)karyotypes.

Question 37

Which of the following is true of mitosis?

A)The process requires only one cell division to be complete.
B)There are two cell divisions before the process is complete.
C)The result is gamete formation.
D)It does not require DNA to replicate.
E)It is a rare process.

Question 38

Chromosomes are only found in

A)prokaryotic cells.
B)nuclei of cells.
C)ribosomes.
D)mitochondria.
E)cell membrane.

Question 39

The chromosomes of an individual viewed microscopically and displayed in a photograph are called

A)homology.
B)random assortment.
C)karyotype.
D)gamete.
E)genome.

Question 40

Which statement is TRUE of autosomes?

A)It is not necessary for them to occur in pairs for normal physiological functions to occur.
B)A person can be missing an autosome and not exhibit any abnormalities.
C)Having extra autosomes is not a problem for most people.
D)Over half the autosomes an individual possesses are inherited from the mother.
E)Abnormal numbers of autosomes are usually fatal.

Question 41

A eukaryotic cell is composed of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins but lacks nucleic acids.

Question 42

The process of transcription during protein synthesis occurs at the ribosomes.

Question 43

A major goal of the Human Genome Project is to

A)facilitate human cloning.
B)map the chromosomes of every human on the planet.
C)sequence the entire human genome.
D)trace evolutionary relationships among primates.
E)prevent overpopulation.

Question 44

Explain the history and functions of cells.

Question 45

Describe the structure of the DNA molecule; include as much detail as you can.

Question 46

Homeobox genes direct the development of the overall body.

Question 47

Explain the function of regulatory genes, including homeobox genes.

Question 48

Nondisjunction can occur in the autosomes but never occurs in the sex chromosomes.

Question 49

Codons are triplets of mRNA bases that code for specific amino acids during protein synthesis.

Question 50

Which is NOT true about recombination?

A)It is the exchange of genetic material between paired chromosomes.
B)It is also called crossing over.
C)It occurs during mitosis.
D)Its pairing ensures each new daughter cell receives only one of each pair.
E)It occurs in gamete formation.

Question 51

Mitochondrial DNA has the same molecular structure and function as nuclear DNA.

Question 52

Individuals who inherit only one of the hemoglobin S alleles have sickle-cell anemia.

Question 53

Trisomy 21

A)occurs  only in  infants born to women who got pregnant at 45 years or older.
B)is caused by nondisjunction.
C)is caused by having three X chromosomes.
D)is usually lethal.
E)occurs only among nonhuman primates.

Question 54

Explain what genes are and their function.

Question 55

What are the two steps in protein synthesis?  Where does each occur?

Question 56

How do DNA and RNA differ in structure and function?

Question 57

Regulatory genes produce enzymes and other proteins that either switch on or turn off other segments of DNA.

Question 58

Approximately 80% of the human genome is involved in some form of biochemical function.

Question 59

Scientists use _______ to produce many copies of small DNA fragments, such as those obtained at crime scenes or from fossils.

A)transcription
B)polymerase chain reactions
C)nondisjunction
D)trisomies
E)random assortment of alleles

Question 60

Karyotype analysis is often used in the prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities.

Question 61

Describe the human genome project and its scientific importance.

Question 62

Explain sickle-cell anemia and the evolutionary importance of mutations.

Question 63

Explain why the study of genetics is critical to biological anthropology today.

Question 64

Describe reduction division and explain why it is necessary to meiosis.

Question 65

Compare and contrast the processes and end products of mitosis and meiosis.

Question 66

Describe DNA replications and chromosomes.

Question 67

Discuss why DNA is the biological basis of life, and explain some of the scientific evidence showing how all species are ultimately related to one another.

Question 68

Discuss trisomy and name the only example of it that is compatible with life.

Question 69

Using your knowledge of the principles of natural selection, explain why genetic variation is central to the evolutionary process.

Question 70

Explain protein synthesis and its relation and importance.

Question 71

Explain the discovery, role, and importance of DNA.

Question 72

Give two examples of how the field of genetics has revolutionized biological science.

Question 73

Explain how nondisjunction can occur.  Give one example of nondisjunction of the autosomes.

Question 74

Describe the technique called polymerase chain reaction.